Felony Murder Rule: Drivers Facing LIFE For Driving? #shorts

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]The mere fact that you were a driver could convict you of first-degree murder and you can be facing life in prison. Called him and I explained to him even though he was just a driver under the California felony murder rule as it was at the time an old, archaic, unjust felony murder rule he's just as liable as the people that went inside, as the people that did the killing. So, under the old California felony murder rule when he was arrested you don't have to commit a murder. You don't even have to be at the location.

[00:00:39]The mere fact that you were a driver could convict you of first-degree murder and you can be facing life in prison. Just like thousands of people in the state of California were doing life sentences for a crime that they did not even commit.

[00:00:58]But fortunately, as this case was going the law changed. Senate Bill 1437 was enacted and it changed the law and thank God it did because if it didn't he probably wouldn't be here today. The law changed and he was one of the first people to benefit from the new law.

[00:01:21]And what the new law said is just because you were the driver doesn't mean you're guilty of felony murder. You have to have either done the killing or been a substantial part a substantial factor, an aider and abettor in the actual crime. And they enacted that law so the getaway driver doesn't do life because there are hundreds and hundreds of people doing life.